Sign Petition

Unanswered Questions

Consolidation and Repurpose Questions:

  1. What is the actual cost savings from consolidating campuses? NOT ESTIMATES. (factoring in transportation, special programs, and SPECIFIC staffing needs per campus based on actual student population)
  2. How much will it cost to repurpose Steiner Ranch Elementary?  
    1. And where will the funds come from to repurpose Steiner Ranch Elementary WITHOUT calling for a bond?
  3. Where will the funds come to renovate Laura Bush Elementary WITHOUT calling for a bond? 
  4. Provide us with the detailed budget breakdown as to exactly what the projected annual operating savings will be once you have rezoned and evaluated the population, student needs, and demographics. 
  5. What is your justification for closing a school in Steiner, only to shift the M&O to Travisso? 
    1. This is NOT a true savings – it’s simply shifting the M&O burden to the north. 
  6. What will the new feeder patterns and attendance zones look like?
  7. What will happen to displaced teachers and staff from any closed or repurposed schools? Will tenure be considered in Steiner for staff, allowing them to stay in their neighborhood schools? 
  8. How will class sizes be affected across receiving campuses, specifically around special education, dual language, or gifted/talented programs?
  9. What data supports that student outcomes will improve—or at least not decline — under the proposed consolidation paths?
  10. What is the plan to support teacher morale and retention during this period of instability?
  11. What other options were considered, and why were they rejected? Please provide the documentation surrounding your decision matrix.
  12. Why were alternative models like REAL small schools, magnet programs, after-school enrichment, or charter partnerships not explored or piloted?
  13. What, specifically, is the public-private partnership being proposed? Who is involved and under what terms?

School Income/Expense Questions:

  1. What are the actual income and expenses for each affected campus for the 2024/2025 school year?
  2. It appears Steiner Elementary was able to operate under the given budget for 2024-2025 while many schools were in the red. Are you looking at ways to help schools who are not staying within their budget vs closing schools who are in the green?

Paid Pre-K Related Questions:

  1. What demand studies have been conducted to justify displacing an entire campus and replacing it with a paid Pre-K? And why not pilot paid pre-k at all of the low-enrolled campuses before destroying entire communities and displacing hundreds of students?
  2. How much will it cost to convert existing facilities for Pre-K use (classrooms, bathrooms, playgrounds, etc.)?
  3. Where will the funding come from to staff and equip these Pre-K programs? (And how will that impact the overall numbers)
  4. How many students are you projecting for paid Pre-K, and where are those numbers coming from? (Is this a real plan or just your way of saying “we tried X and it didn’t work”.)
  5. What is your fallback plan if the paid Pre-K program does not meet enrollment or financial targets?

Paid Pre-K Related Questions:

  1. What demand studies have been conducted to justify displacing an entire campus and replacing it with a paid Pre-K? And why not pilot paid pre-k at all of the low-enrolled campuses before destroying entire communities and displacing hundreds of students?
  2. How much will it cost to convert existing facilities for Pre-K use (classrooms, bathrooms, playgrounds, etc.)?
  3. Where will the funding come from to staff and equip these Pre-K programs? (And how will that impact the overall numbers)
  4. How many students are you projecting for paid Pre-K, and where are those numbers coming from? (Is this a real plan or just your way of saying “we tried X and it didn’t work”.)
  5. What is your fallback plan if the paid Pre-K program does not meet enrollment or financial targets?

Data Discrepancy Questions:

  1. You state that Steiner Ranch is too expensive for young families, yet the data shows Travisso is in the same price bracket. 
    • How do you justify this narrative?
  2. Is the data predicting regeneration of a neighborhood and future student enrollment reliable? Please provide information around this statistic showing reliability.
    • PASA reports from ___ predicted enrollment at ___ and the actual numbers for that year were grossly inaccurate.

Other Questions:

  1. What is the justification to approve building Travisso at roughly 80 million dollars, when recent new elementary school builds have been built for half the price?
    • Are you doing your due diligence when selecting builders/contractors?
  2. Why not wait until after the PASA report comes out? You state the low enrollment is moving north, so how do you propose to keep the rest of the district from suffering the same fate? 
  3. You say you made a political promise to Travisso? But what about the promise made to the South and Central? “We are not closing neighborhood schools?”
  4. How are you going to combine campuses? Will staff and family members have a say in which staff members stay and go? The campuses you’re closing have kids that need continuity too.

Transparency & Process:

  1. Why haven’t detailed plans and budget breakdowns been provided before the board is asked to vote on closures and repurposing?
  2. Why is the administration engaging teachers and staff after plans are already in motion instead of in the early planning stages?
  3. What specific legal or procedural steps are being taken to ensure transparency and public trust throughout this process?
  4. Why have board members not demanded full projections and modeling before advancing votes?

Fiscal Responsibility:

  1. What is the actual long-term cost of maintaining the closed facility if Steiner is not repurposed or sold?
  2. What guarantees are in place to ensure that savings from closures are redirected into instructional improvements rather than administrative overhead or new construction?
  3. How much has LISD already spent in consulting, PR, and surveys related to the proposed closures and repurposing?
  4. If you plan to sell closed schools, how will the proceeds be used?
  5. What is the cost comparison between keeping Steiner open vs. funding new transportation routes, renovations, and Pre-K conversions?

Student Impact & Equity:

  1. How will students receiving special services (SPED, 504, ESL, etc.) be affected by the transitions, and what accommodations are planned?
  2. What plan is in place to monitor and mitigate negative impacts on student mental health from losing their home campus?
  3. What’s the plan for students who walk or bike to school now? Will additional safety measures or resources be provided for transportation?
  4. How are you ensuring equitable access to programs like Dual Language and GT across the district—especially for displaced students?

Facility Use & Long-Term Planning:

  1. What is the district’s 5-year plan for repurposed campuses if programs like paid Pre-K or partnerships fail?
  2. What community use models have been explored for empty or underutilized buildings? (e.g., adult education, non-profits, rec programs)
  3. What’s the long-term plan if northward population growth slows or reverses due to economic conditions or housing shifts?
  4. Have you considered leasing excess space to generate revenue rather than closing campuses outright?
Copyright 2025
Facebook Instagram
Privacy Policy